This week on the Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci interviews David Watumull, co-founder and CEO of AX3 Life, a longevity company focused on helping people perform at their best for longer. Dave explains the science behind inflammaging — chronic inflammation linked to aging — and how AX3’s bio-pure astaxanthin is designed to address it at the source.

Kenny and Dave discuss why astaxanthin is emerging as a foundational daily nutrient for longevity, supporting cognition, heart health, endurance, recovery, and skin and eye health. Dave also breaks down how it works in the body, the growth of research in this space, and clinical findings related to oxidative stress and LDL.

They also explore the history of astaxanthin, the challenges of building awareness in the longevity category, and practical details including dosing, packaging, and pricing. A thoughtful conversation on performance, recovery, and the future of longevity science.

00:00 Podcast intro and guest

00:25 First look at astaxanthin

00:52 How to take it and feel it

01:21 Why the pouch packaging

02:16 Cellular benefits explained

04:00 Research and safety proof

05:45 Origin story and setbacks

08:10 Marketing and investor hurdles

10:51 Elevator pitch and daily stack

13:30 Where it comes from and extraction

16:41 Awareness and education challenge

19:24 Growth channels and target users

24:03 Advocates and NIH lifespan study

27:23 Where the brand goes next

27:48 Astaxanthin with Omega-3s

28:53 LDL and Heart Risk

31:03 Inflammation and hsCRP

32:00 Origin Story and Mission

35:55 Dosing and Expectations

37:28 Cost and Value Debate

39:34 Bioavailability Comparison

40:35 Vision for Mass Adoption

42:02 Workout Routine and Community

46:05 Skin and Exercise Benefits

48:26 NAD and Mitochondria

50:11 How to Take It Daily

51:09 Travel and Fitness in Hawaii

53:32 Wrap Up and Where to Buy

This week on the Strong New York Podcast, Kenny Santucci is joined by comedian, impressionist, actress, and media host Andrea Lopez. Andrea gained national recognition as a semi-finalist on NBC’s Bring The Funny and has built a following of over 700K fans, with her viral Kourtney Kardashian TikTok surpassing 15 million views. She also co-hosts the Big Wigs Podcast.

Kenny and Andrea discuss why more comedians are turning to fitness to manage anxiety, depression, and the mental grind of stand-up, as well as the importance of real community and connection in a post-pandemic world. Andrea also shares how her multicultural background and social media presence helped shape her career, her evolving goals from SNL to writing and producing, and what it takes to navigate internet fame.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:28 Comedians and Fitness

01:52 Nicole and Community

04:55 Pandemic Connection

06:29 Roots and Culture

10:17 Comedy Dark Side

13:00 Fitness Journey and Cities

14:34 Mexican Food Debate

16:50 Impressions Origin Story

20:22 Career Goals and Writing

24:25 Comedian Rankings Game

29:31 Conspiracies and Comedy

32:11 Social Media Hustle

33:48 Legos to Content

34:29 Vulnerability Sells

35:30 Viral Fitness Absurdity

37:21 Comedy Grind Stories

40:34 Political Correctness

45:00 Offense and DMs

46:23 Skipping the Super Bowl

48:17 NYC Restaurants Rant

50:15 Where Else to Live

55:38 Sunshine vs Winter

56:44 Impressions Showcase

01:01:24 Names and Identity

01:04:42 Italian Identity Wrap

This week on the Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci is joined by Daria Berenato — actress, former WWE Champion, MMA fighter, and media host. After a groundbreaking WWE career that included championship success and leadership roles as Raw and SmackDown General Manager, Daria returned to wrestling television with TNA Wrestling on AMC as authority figure The S.U.I.T., Daria Rae. She also serves as an executive partner and commentator with Invicta FC and co-hosts the podcast Unwrapped.

Kenny and Daria discuss her journey from a competitive multi-sport athlete in South Jersey to discovering MMA, training at a time when women’s combat sports were far less mainstream, and her experience on Tough Enough, which led to her signing with WWE despite early elimination. She shares lessons learned from other talents in the industry, reflects on leaving WWE after 10 years to pursue acting and producing, and opens up about embracing her sexuality and the support she’s received from the LGBTQ+ community.

00:00 Women in Combat Sports

00:53 Podcast Intro and Guest

01:23 Daria Name Origins

02:36 South Jersey Roots

03:31 Wild Gyms and Money Talk

05:04 Philly Food and Cheesesteaks

06:10 Jersey Shore Life and Real Estate

10:07 From Team Sports to Fighting

11:01 Inspired by Gina Carano

12:41 First MMA Gym Initiation

14:35 Proving Herself in Tournament

16:07 Wrestling Roots

16:48 Women Rising

18:39 Jiu Jitsu Proof

19:23 Divas Revolution

20:39 Tough Enough

22:10 Money Reality

24:17 Raw Debut

25:33 Backstage Mentors

27:31 Character Evolution

28:55 WWE To TNA

30:41 Coming Out Story

34:48 Fans And Kids

36:24 Pump Session Wrap

On this episode of the Strong New York Podcast, Kenny Santucci sits down with NYC-based health coach Hunter Stoler (@healthwithhunter) to unpack why so many people struggle with fitness—often falling into the trap of extremes instead of committing to small, sustainable habits.

Hunter opens up about his personal turning point after reaching 227 lbs in college, and the Thanksgiving moment that pushed him to make a lasting change. By mastering the fundamentals—like maintaining a calorie deficit, improving nutrition, and staying consistent—he transformed not just his body, but his energy levels and even healed years of cystic acne.

The conversation dives into the importance of patience, accountability, and the role of group fitness, as well as the reality that nutrition fuels fat loss while exercise supports mindset. Hunter also shares practical, no-BS strategies you can implement immediately—from prioritizing protein, fiber, and healthy fats to hitting daily step goals and incorporating resistance training. Plus, he drops some of his favorite healthy NYC food spots and go-to grocery staples.

If you’re ready to move past the all-or-nothing mindset and build habits that actually stick, this episode is for you.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:11 Why People Fail at Health

03:25 Sustainable Training Mindset

05:14 Hunter’s Turning Point

07:26 Motivation and Discomfort

09:01 Weight Watchers and Food Swaps

10:13 Acne and Lifestyle Fixes

11:45 Support Systems and Your Circle

13:10 Breaking Vices Diet Soda

16:55 Fruit Sugar and Cravings

18:21 Kenny’s Weight Loss Story

22:12 Family Transformation and Exercise

23:34 Gym Mindset Shift

24:06 Accountability Beats Excuses

26:12 Early Mornings No Excuse

27:31 Three Tips For Plateaus

30:32 Healthy NYC Food Spots

33:58 Best Bars And Electrolytes

36:55 Alcohol And The 80 20 Rule

38:49 Dexa Scan Body Recomp

41:05 Self Advocacy And Ownership

42:57 Treat Your Body Like Gold

44:50 Wrap Up And Where To Follow

This week on the Strong New York Podcast, Kenny sits down with Dr. Jonathan Levine, the visionary founder of Smile House—a groundbreaking, multi-specialty destination focused on dental longevity and aesthetics.

Their conversation explores the powerful connection between oral health and overall wellness, from breathing and sleep to inflammation and disease prevention. Dr. Levine explains how factors like jaw structure, nasal breathing, and early childhood development—including breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding—can influence airway health, deep sleep, and long-term disease risk. He also shares why dentistry has historically been slow to adopt a more integrated, whole-body approach.

Dr. Levine breaks down Smile House’s innovative “360” model, where multiple specialists collaborate under one roof to deliver hospitality-driven care using advanced imaging, salivary diagnostics, and biomarkers to detect inflammation early. By working closely with physicians, the goal is to move healthcare from a reactive sickness model to proactive, upstream wellness.

They also discuss sugar’s impact on both dental and metabolic health, the role of movement and community in longevity, Dr. Levine’s athletic background and team-based leadership philosophy, and his vision for expanding medical-dental integration through additional screenings and shared health data.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:42 Breathing Shapes the Face
01:45 Jaw Development and Sleep
03:00 Why Dentistry Lags Behind
05:28 Smile House 360 Model
08:18 Prevention and Subsidies
11:53 Oral Health as Longevity Pillar
14:01 Sugar and Metabolic Damage
18:23 Daily Discipline and Habits
19:42 Preventing Dentures and Disease
22:12 Kids Mouth Breathing and Breastfeeding
26:44 Aesthetics and Personal Responsibility
28:02 Sports Mindset and Teamwork
31:07 Business Lessons and Community
33:42 Health Pros Unite
34:52 Bridge Dentistry Medicine
36:20 Fitness Routine Longevity
37:35 Community Stress Relief
41:46 Kindness And Civility
45:36 Dream Bigger Values
47:47 Building Smile House
50:58 Hiring For Attributes
53:06 Future DMI Protocols
55:15 AI Adoption Timeline
58:11 Industry Shifts Private Equity
59:09 Final Thanks And Plugs

c

In January, The Strong New York Podcast hit the road at the LA Fit Expo, where Kenny connected with Dr. Emily Splichal — functional podiatrist, human movement specialist, and founder of Naboso, a company creating sensory-based tools designed to stimulate the nerves in the feet and enhance movement and performance. Together, they unpack why foot health is foundational to strength, stability, and long-term resilience.

Dr. Splichal breaks down the shift from minimal to maximal footwear, addresses lingering misconceptions from the barefoot running era, and explains why shoe selection should be categorical based on the specific activity. She challenges the obsession with hitting 10,000 steps, advocating instead for higher-quality walking and the integration of quick, reactive movements to support fall prevention and longevity. The conversation also explores the body’s interconnected “stacking domes” — detailing how the feet link to the pelvic floor, diaphragm, and even the tongue through fascia — and dives into pelvic floor contraction versus relaxation in pregnancy and Pilates, as well as why women benefit from lifting heavier than they often think.

The episode closes with a live foot assessment and practical takeaways, including toe spacers and simple daily recovery strategies you can start immediately. If your goal is to move better, build real strength, and create a body that lasts, this conversation truly starts from the ground up.

00:00 Live at LA Fit Expo

00:40 Meet Dr Emily and No Boso

01:25 The Science of Texture

02:39 Minimal vs Maximal Shoes

05:45 Running Boom and Hybrid Shoes

06:45 Choosing the Right Footwear

09:03 Barefoot Training for Pain

11:38 Better Steps Not More

12:37 Quick Movement for Longevity

14:18 Foot to Pelvic Floor Connection

16:03 Pregnancy and Pelvic Floor Timing

17:35 Pilates Balance and Heavy Lifting

20:26 Training Routine Breakdown

21:25 Purposeful Movement Mindset

22:08 Balance Training Debates

22:49 Foot Recovery and Toe Control

24:17 Barefoot Training Benefits

25:04 Where to Find Dr Emily

25:31 Live Foot Assessment

28:48 Neutral Foot and Rigid Lever

30:20 Feet Pelvic Floor and Glutes

31:50 Foot Posture Exercises

32:41 Final Wrap and Links

In this episode of the Strong New York Podcast, Kenny takes the show on the road to the LA Fit Expo to sit down with health and wellness legend Mark Sisson.

Mark—New York Times bestselling author, former elite endurance athlete, and founder of Primal Kitchen—shares how injuries from running led him to rethink fitness, nutrition, and footwear, ultimately creating the Primal Blueprint and Primal Kitchen. He breaks down his simple framework for long-term health (diet, walking, lifting, sprinting, and sleep), explains why metabolic flexibility matters, and challenges mainstream nutrition “science.”

We also dive into entrepreneurship, lessons learned building iconic brands, and why Mark launched his minimalist footwear company Peluva to address foot health from the ground up.

00:00 Live from LA Fit Expo: Welcome & Why Fitness Events Matter

00:26 Meet Mark Sisson: Athlete, Entrepreneur & Early Biohacker

01:25 From Running Injuries to Evolutionary Biology (and Building a Career)

02:17 Primal Kitchen Origin Story: Fixing Diet Through Better Sauces

03:33 Facing Rejection: Defending Paleo, Epigenetics & Self-Experimentation

05:55 Science, Money & Nutrition Confusion: Why Mark Stays Non-Dogmatic

07:29 Try Things, Track Results: Awareness, Experimentation & What You’ll Stick To

09:33 Metabolic Flexibility: The Real Goal Behind Any “Best Diet”

10:35 80/20 Fitness Basics: Walk More, Lift, Sprint—Then Decide How Far to Go

11:43 Born to Walk: Why Most People Shouldn’t Run (Injuries, Form & Catabolism)

14:07 Runner’s High Myth & Smarter Training: Cross-Training Over Mileage

16:12 VO2 Max vs Real-World Longevity: Build a Strong, Balanced Hybrid Athlete

17:19 Whatever Happened to America’s Fitness Culture? Setting Up the Bigger Question

17:47 Why We’ve Gotten Softer: Screens, PE, and “Trauma” from Gym Class

18:40 Building Big Businesses: Choosing the Right Idea & Betting on Yourself

20:18 Purpose Over Profit: Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship (Sauces to Footwear)

22:02 Failures That Built the Empire: Pivots, Lessons, and Mark’s Origin Story

23:08 3 Business Non-Negotiables: Team, Capital, and Timing (Plus the Keto/Atkins Lesson)

25:31 The Simple Health Stack: Diet First, Walk More, Lift & Sprint, Then Sleep

26:51 Sprinting Done Right: Intervals, Examples, and Avoiding Injury

28:15 When Endurance Backfires: Overtraining, Heart Health, and How Humans Really Moved

32:28 Training Smarter at 72 + Where to Find Mark (Wrap-Up)

This week, Kenny sits down with Owen Hanson, founder of California Ice Protein, to share a story that defies expectations.

Owen’s journey was anything but traditional. After college, he went from athlete to building an international illegal gambling and drug trafficking operation that spanned continents—before watching it all collapse. Federal prison stripped away the power and the illusion, forcing him to confront every mistake and rebuild from the ground up.

In this episode, Owen opens up about his path from college sports to working with a major Mexican cartel, his time behind bars, and how he ultimately turned his life around. Today, Owen Hanson’s story is one of accountability, resilience, and redemption—proving that no matter how far someone falls, it’s always possible to rise again.

00:00 Welcome + Guest Intro (Cocaine Quarterback to Fitness & Protein)

00:49 From USC Network to Illegal Sports Betting Bookie

01:38 When Betting Goes Mainstream: Legalization & Prison-Time Irony

03:08 First Days in Federal Prison: Fear, Violence & PTSD Triggers

05:18 Prison Politics: Race Cars, Gangs, and Surviving the Yard

06:53 How Ambition Led to the Cartel: International Bets & Money Laundering

08:03 $10M Cash Stash in Australia: Paranoia and the Million-a-Day Pitch

09:57 Losing $3.2M and Meeting the ‘Boss of Bosses’ in Mexico

11:48 Smuggling Innovation: Wine Bottles, Everclear, and Chocolate Pallets

15:41 Life Inside: Routine, Workouts, Cellmates, and Prison Economics

20:56 The California Ice Origin Story: Protein Shake Freezes into ‘Ice Cream’

24:19 Prison Ice Cream Hustle: Rock Salt, Shake-to-Freeze & Super Bowl Payday

25:14 From Halfway House to Big Idea: Launching a Protein Ice Cream Brand

26:19 Frozen Logistics Reality Check: Shipping Ice Cream vs. Shipping Coke

27:45 Fit Expo Momentum & Brand Aesthetic: Building Hype in the Gym Scene

28:18 Finding a Co-Packer After 8 Rejections (and Using the Book as Proof)

29:49 R&D Grind: Perfecting the All-Natural Formula (Greek Yogurt, Monk Fruit, No Added Sugar)

30:35 Family, Sentence Shock & the “Cocaine Quarterback” Name Explained

34:08 Athlete to Cartel to Comeback: Resilience, Mindset Tricks & the Docuseries Tease

37:13 Business Numbers & Product Roadmap: $10M Valuation, New Flavors, Non-Dairy & Collabs

42:04 Closing Message: Helping At-Risk Kids, Inner Circle Support & Where to Find the Brand